Details Emerge For VW's Chattanooga Chariot
With a new VW plant under construction, Chattanooga’s local media is hunting down every last detail available on the new D-class, America-only model to be built there in 2011. WRCB TV even sent a reporter to a recent VW presentation in Berlin, at which a few more facts were released about the closely-guarded NMS (New Midsize Sedan) project. Those of us who consider VW’s current American-market engines a slap in the face (and I’m with you there, JB) will be happy to hear that the “NMS” will come with Fuel-Stratified Injection (FSI) gas and diesel options, mated to a dual-clutch transmission. Size, legroom, trunk volume and the number of cupholders are planned specifically for the US market, so expect proportions to be more Passat than Jetta. Oh, and it will have something called “dynamic powertrain acceleration” too. Whatever that is.
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Given the size requirements, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw something built on the Skoda Superb platform - which would be no bad thing, at all. Can't see us getting the twin hatch/trunk thingy, but I sat in one in the UK a couple of weeks ago, and the space (particularly in the back) and the build quality were terrific.
Camry and Accord are the targets here.
And hopeful that it won't get "Malibuized" like the 1979-84 Rabbits (excepting the GTI).
You have to see silver lining in this for Detroit. If VW wants decent car for US market to compete with Accord and Camry, all they need to do is to re badge existing Skoda for our market. The car should be manufactured in Czech Republic. Skoda is following Lexus/Toyota in European quality ratings and is the best quality brand in VW group. VW board/management makes GM & Ford look intelligent.